Today's Opinions

Each year at election time I find myself becoming discouraged as the political ads start creeping their way into my morning radio, newspaper, and e-mail.
It’s appalling to see the people who claim to be leaders of our nation, states, and communities jeopardizing their morals for the sake of becoming elected.
Slander is the theme of many campaign ads. It’s all about who can dig up the most dirt on their opponent. Anything goes as long as you get the vote!

Let me tell you some things about Christina Bedsaul.
This is a woman who worked 10 hours a day [at Rooftop of Virginia] for 8 hours of pay. Who cried over budget cuts that would cause layoffs and fought tooth and nail for funding to avoid some.
This is a woman who took the job not for money but to help those who needed help. Took money out of her own pocket to pay for a motel room for a homeless man in the winter because she could not find a shelter with a room and bought him a meal, too.

For the second time, the Twin County Humane Society Homes Program thanks the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies for providing a generous grant to help stray dogs and cats get a home.
Thanks, too, to the people willing to give an animal a forever home.
The homes program provided assistance to families willing to take in stray and abandoned dogs and cats and give them a loving home.

I want to extend a big “thank you” to the families, friends, neighbors, churches and everyone who helped make my benefit a success.
Thanks to all who came, gave, donated, baked and helped.
May God bless each one of you.Wilma Reedy
Troutdale

As the varsity golf coaches at Galax High School, we are very proud of our team for winning back to back state championships this year and last year.
This accomplishment was reached with the support of the Galax City School System, parents of the players and the community.
On behalf of the varsity golf team, we would like to extend our appreciation to Graham Laird and Blue Ridge Country Club, Steve Hazelwood and Galax City Golf Course, Bo Goins and Olde Mill Golf Course, Jay Guynn, Roger Martin, Doug Bryant and the Galax Athletic Boosters.

In our warped, violent, greedy no-holds barred society, where bad is good and wrong is right, here come these voices saying change in politics and direction of the country, but where is this when it comes to the heart?
Back on that dark and horrible day of 9-11, we as a nation came together as one, treated one another better and made that American spirit stronger and proud.
Time went by, attitudes changed. Our country drifted back to same old ways of distrust in the powers that be, trash talking and condoning violence, hatred and race baiting.

After reading many of the recent letters published in the paper in support of Richard Vaughan and attacking Mark Burnett, I felt that I had to speak up to set the record straight.
I am a former employee of the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, where I worked under Sheriff Vaughan and his predecessor.
Vaughan stated in his letter to the paper that “nobody has to have an appointment to speak with me.” This statement is not true.

After reading the letters submitted for Richard Vaughan, I feel the need to respond.
Vaughan states that he has run his office in a financially responsible manner. However, if you take a look at his approved budgets since taking office, you see a different story.
The current yearly budget includes line item requests which include $135,000 for “automobiles” and “automobile expenses” and $6,000 for “construction.”